[RE-wrenches] Three-phase off-grid

Fri Oct 21 20:20:32 PDT 2011

Ray,
    The nice thing about the Exeltech (and what made me decide to use
them) is that they are not "large". They are simply an array of 1 kw
inverters, allowing for multiple redundancy. Essentially, a 30 kw
three phase inverter is 31 small inverters, which, with the removal of
two nuts, can be swapped out in case of failure with the system
running and replaced. I, too, liked the idea of a separate charging
system and we will be splitting the system into 20 kw of PV charging
to each of three battery banks, one for each phase.

Daryl


> HI Allan;
>
> I haven't tried the large Exeltech inverters, but I could see some
> advantages to having a separate charging system, and keeping the
> inverters supplying stable power. Everytime a generator coughs or
> switches from one source to another, it seems to cause trouble. The
> generator could be sized smaller, since it wouldn't need any surge
> capability. It would always run the same charger, and the inverters
> would always run the same loads. I'd at least take another look at it
> for my next large project, but cost might be a limiting factor.
> Here's a Cummins diesel DC generator, just to think about:
> http://www.cumminspowerproducts.com/DCgensets/Other/10000500.pdf
>
> Ray
>
> On 10/21/2011 4:56 PM, Gary Willett wrote:
>> Alan: Thanks for setting me straight about 3-phasing the Outback
>> Radian - I was not aware they are limited to parallel single phase
>> applications.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Gary Willett
>>
>>
>> On 10/21/2011 15:29, Allan Sindelar wrote:
>>> Gary,
>>> I was surprised by this information, as I had presumed that both
>>> units were for single-phase only. So I checked.
>>>
>>> Mary Raub in tech support at Outback told me that the Radian works
>>> only in 120/240 single-phase, although they are stackable in parallel.
>>>
>>> Someone in Schneider tech support told me that the XW can be used in
>>> three-phase, up to six units (36 kW). Setup instructions are in
>>> Appendix D of the XW installation guide, found online at
>>> http://www.global-download.schneider-electric.com/85257849002EB8CB/all/5CC689CC3CB7FD10852578BF005EA759/$File/xw-hybrid-inverter-charger_installation-guide%28975-0239-01-01_rev-e%29.pdf.
>>>
>>> Thanks, Allan
>>>
>>> *Allan Sindelar*
>>> _Allan at positiveenergysolar.com_ <mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
>>> NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
>>> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
>>> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
>>> *Positive Energy, Inc.*
>>> 3201 Calle Marie
>>> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
>>> *505 424-1112*
>>> _www.positiveenergysolar.com_ <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/>
>>>
>>> On 10/21/2011 2:01 PM, Gary Willett wrote:
>>>> Allan:
>>>> Also, you might consider using six to nine Schneider/Xantrex XW6048
>>>> inverters, or six to nine Outback Radian GS8048 inverters, in a
>>>> 3-phase configuration, with a common battery bank.
>>>> Also, Schneider/Xantrex has an 80A 600V charge controller that may
>>>> be advantageous depending on the distance from the PV arrays to the
>>>> inverters.
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Gary Willett, PE
>>>> Icarus-Engineering LLC
>>>>
>>>> Icarus Solar Services LLC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 10/21/2011 10:17, Allan Sindelar wrote:
>>>>> Wrenches,
>>>>> We have been asked for a design for an off-grid system to reduce
>>>>> generator runtime for a mountain resort. Initial projections
>>>>> (consumption measurement results not yet available) suggest 15-20
>>>>> kW of PV and around 30 kW of inverter capacity. However, the
>>>>> generators and existing wiring are three-phase 120/208.
>>>>>
>>>>> My assumption is that our only options are a set of six Sunny
>>>>> Islands, or 9-12 Outback GVFX3648s. Are there any other options or
>>>>> approaches that I'm missing?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you, Allan
>>>>> --
>>>>> *Allan Sindelar*
>>>>> _Allan at positiveenergysolar.com_
>>>>> <mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
>>>>> NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
>>>>> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
>>>>> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
>>>>> *Positive Energy, Inc.*
>>>>> 3201 Calle Marie
>>>>> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
>>>>> *505 424-1112*
>>>>> _www.positiveenergysolar.com_ <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
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